Edition: International | Greek
MENU

Home » Business

EU keen on defense research fund

By: EBR - Posted: Wednesday, March 8, 2006

EU keen on defense research fund
EU keen on defense research fund

EU defense ministers have said they are keen to see more work done on a new fund for military research in Europe.

The fund would draw money from member states and be run by a central body, the European Defense Agency (EDA). The UK Defense Secretary John Reid said the move would encourage other EU countries to pay more for joint ventures in research and technology.

European Union officials say this is a significant moment in the development of European defense policy. At the moment some EU countries co-operate with each other on research into specific pieces of military hardware. What is proposed here is for member states to fund broader defense projects, such as how to reduce battlefield casualties.
Those member states would retain oversight of the project but it would be co-ordinated by the EU's own EDA.

NATO partnership

The British defense secretary said it made sense for as many EU countries as possible to share the costs and risks of this type of research.

"At present about 75% of all the money spent on research and development is spent by the British and the French. "So any mechanism that persuades, encourages, cajoles others to spend money on research and development is well worth it," Mr. Reid said.

However, the opposition Conservative Party in Britain has warned this fund could duplicate the work of NATO and undermine UK military relations with America. EU defense officials insist this is work in partnership with NATO. They argue that at the moment the US spends five times as much as the whole of Europe on military research and technology. The EDA, they say, could make that much smaller amount of European money go a lot further.

READ ALSO

EU Actually

Extreme weather or not, the climate summit in Belem is in danger

N. Peter KramerBy: N. Peter Kramer

That the weather is becoming more and more extreme does not lead to more political urgency

View 04/2021 2021 Digital edition

Magazine

Current Issue

04/2021 2021

View past issues
Subscribe
Advertise
Digital edition

Europe

How the EU can think creatively for sanctions on Russia

How the EU can think creatively for sanctions on Russia

Ahead of Thursday’s European Council summit, it is hard to deny that EU sanctions on Russia are facing headwinds

Business

To save the Single Market, bring back Delors’ 1992 playbook

To save the Single Market, bring back Delors’ 1992 playbook

Most people familiar with EU affairs know the single market is a myth. Hailed as the bedrock of the European Union, it was never completed and is now crumbling.

MARKET INDICES

Powered by Investing.com
All contents © Copyright EMG Strategic Consulting Ltd. 1997-2025. All Rights Reserved   |   Home Page  |   Disclaimer  |   Website by Theratron